Improvement in lever spring-latches



lUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. N. HOUSTON, OF DEOA'IUR, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN LEVER SPRING-LATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent NoA 43,410, dated July 5, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, J. N. HOUSTON, of Decatur, in the county of Adams and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Lever Spring Latch-Fastener for Shutters, &c.; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference `being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l-is a perspective view ot' my invention, showing its application toa shutter. Fig.

2 is an outside view of the Window with the shutter removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same, showing all its parts in position.

Similar letters ofreference in the three views indicate correspondin g parts.

'Ihis invention consists in the application ot' two spring-catches combined together in such a manner that one catch or latch serves to fasten or release the shutter, door, or other article, and the secondcatch retains the rst or the latch in position when the same is set, to release or unfasten the shutter or door, and it' the latch is in this position and the shutter or door is closed a slight pressure on said catch serves to release the latch and to -fasten the door. 1

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention7 I will proceed to describe it. 3

A represents a door or shutter of a window which is inserted Yin the frame B and `opens in any desirable manner.4 When closed, it is fastened by means otl the latch C, which has its fulcruin on a pivot, et, and the hooked end of which is depressed by a spring, b, and made to catch over the edge ot recess on a lip, c, outhe inner side of the shutter or door, as clearly L*hewn in Fig. 3. By depressing the inner end of this latch the hook releases the lip aand the shutter or door can be opened.

rIhe latch` C oscillates up and down in close proximity to the hooked catch D, which is also exposed to the action of a spring, or the body of which may be made to act as a spring having a tendency to throw the hooked end of said catch over the inner end of the latch.

It' the latch is depressed far enough to release the shutter or door, the hooked end ot' the catch D drops over its inner end and retains the same in such a position that the door or shutter can be opened or closedV without coming in contact with said latch; but if it is desired to fasten the door or shutter, when the same is closed a slight pressure on the upper end of the catch l) releases the latch and causes it to drop over the lip c and secure the door or shutter. rlhe catch D has its fulcrnin` on a pivot, d, and its upper end projects slightly above the protecting-plate e of the frame, so that said end can be readily reached and conveniently operated.

rIhis latch is very siinplein its construction, it can be readily applied to doors or shutters of any description, and it is very convenient in its operation.

I do not claim a shutter hook held in its locked position by a spring, and in its retracted position by another catch, such a device having been used before.

My invention is superior by reason of its simplicity ot' construction and being seltacting both in hooking the shutter and retaining the shutter-hook when retracted.

Vhat 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the taper'ended hook C, spring b, and self-acting elastic retaining- Y Vcatch D, when the said parts are constructed and arranged in the manner herein specified.

J. N. HOUSTON. 

